The Exchange: After The Firm

The Exchange: After The Firm is a legal thriller novel by John Grisham, serving as a sequel to his famous work The Firm. The book delves into the life of Mitch McDeere, the protagonist of The Firm, exploring his new challenges fifteen years after the events of the first novel.

Plot
Set in 2005 (fifteen years after The Firm), the story revolves around Mitch McDeere and his life in Manhattan. Now a partner at the world's largest law firm, Scully and Pershing, Mitch faces a complicated legal challenge when his mentor, Luca Sandroni, asks him to take over a case involving the Libyan government. The case, initially handled by Luca who is dying of pancreatic cancer, concerns a Turkish construction company's lawsuit against the Libyan government over unpaid dues for building the Great Gaddafi Bridge. As Mitch and Giovanna, Luca's daughter and a colleague, travel to Libya, Giovanna is kidnapped by a group of brutal Libyan terrorists who slaughter Giovannas security detail and uploading the gruesome executions on the internet to add pressure. Weeks later, of all people, Mitchs wife Abby is chosen as the receiver of the terrorists demands which is revealed to be the outrageous sum of 100 million dollars for ransom - to be paid in less than ten days. Desperate, Mitch and Luca reach out to every possible asset. As the deadline comes closer, they realize, they will not get all of the money in time. So all hope rests on Abby McDeeres ability to convince her contact to accept 85 million dollars instead. In the end, the terrorists accept and get the money and Giovanna is released alive. Mitch, disappointed in the senior partners of Scully and Pershing, who would not stand-up for the majority of the ransom although they could, quits and joins Lucas small law firm.

Publication
The novel was published on October 17, 2023. It is available in various formats including hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. The audiobook version, which is 542 minutes long, was released on the same day as the ebook and hardcover. A large print version was also released on October 24, 2023.

Reception
The book has been met with mixed reviews. Book Marks summarized opinions from various critics, highlighting that some found the novel a thrilling update on Mitch McDeere's life, while others felt it deviated too much from the essence of the original story.

The Exchange has been recognized as a New York Times Bestseller, indicating its commercial success and popularity among readers. The novel has received praise for its gripping narrative and the return of the beloved character Mitch McDeere.

A review on PhDiva's blog expressed a liking for the book, praising its thrilling premise and engaging plot. However, the reviewer also noted a sense of disappointment in terms of how the novel connected with The Firm, feeling that it didn't fully capitalize on the potential of Mitch McDeere's character development. The review recommended the audiobook version for its excellent narration, which added depth to the story.

Overall, while The Exchange has received some praise for its suspenseful and engaging narrative, it has also faced criticism for straying from Grisham's traditional legal thriller formula and for its treatment of returning characters from The Firm.